UTI

Why it works: Antimicrobial metabolite (arbutin → hydroquinone): Uva-ursi leaves are rich in arbutin. After you take it, arbutin is hydrolysed to hydroquinone conjugates that are excreted in uri...

Instructions: Forms & standardisation: Products include dried leaf (tea), liquid/dry extracts, and capsules. Many references base dosing on arbutin content (the key active). Typical total daily...

Warnings: Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Avoid—contraindicated due to hydroquinone exposure and insufficient safet...

Studies: Treatment of acute uncomplicated UTI (symptomatic episodes):...

Why it works: Urine acidification (theory): Ascorbic acid can lower urinary pH. Many uropathogens prefer neutral/alkaline urine, and methenamine (a non-antibiotic preventive) only converts to it...

Instructions: There is no evidence-based dosing of vitamin C to treat an acute UTI, and major guidelines direct clinicians to antibiotics (with symptom relief options) for treatment. If someone...

Warnings: Kidney stones / oxalate: High supplemental vitamin C intake has been associated with a higher kidney...

Studies: No proven benefit in general populations: Reviews and guidel...

Why it works: Restore protective vaginal flora. In many women with recurrent UTI (rUTI), protective vaginal Lactobacillus species are depleted and uropathogens (often E. coli) take hold. Re-esta...

Instructions: Vaginal probiotic (Lactin-V, L. crispatus CTV-05):. Regimen tested: 1 vaginal suppository daily for 5 days, then once weekly for 10 weeks (total 11 weeks), started after antibiotic...

Warnings: Do not use probiotics to treat an active UTI. If you have dysuria, frequency/urgency, fever, flank p...

Studies: Cochrane systematic review (2015, 9 trials, 735 participants...

Why it works: What’s in it: Goldenseal contains isoquinoline alkaloids—most notably berberine and hydrastine—with antibacterial activity in lab studies. However, when humans take goldenseal by m...

Instructions: There are no standardized, evidence-based dosing instructions for UTIs. Authoritative reviews emphasize that clinical evidence is lacking, and no dose has been validated for UTI tr...

Warnings: Pregnancy, breastfeeding, infants: Avoid. NCCIH specifically advises against use in pregnancy or bre...

Studies: High-quality human evidence for UTI treatment is lacking. Th...

Why it works: Antibacterial activity (mostly against Gram-positive bacteria). Usnic acid shows broad in-vitro antibacterial effects and complex, multi-target mechanisms (e.g., effects on metal-c...

Instructions: There is no medically established dosing or regimen for UTIs with Usnea. Herbal websites describe tincture use (e.g., “30–60 drops several times daily”), but these are traditional/...

Warnings: Liver toxicity (most important). Usnic acid has a documented risk of hepatotoxicity, including sever...

Studies: In-vitro (petri-dish) only, not clinical efficacy for UTIs:U...

Why it works: Anti-adhesion mechanism. Cranberries contain A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs) that make it harder for uropathogenic E. coli (the usual culprit) to stick to bladder/urothelial cells,...

Instructions: Capsules/tablets (standardized extract):. • Many studies and professional summaries use products delivering ~36 mg PACs daily (measured by the DMAC method) or. • ≥ 500 mg/day whole...

Warnings: Not a cure for active UTI. Don’t delay medical care if you have symptoms—cranberry doesn’t treat est...

Studies: Cochrane systematic review (2023; 50 RCTs, n≈8,800): Cranber...

Why it works: Antibacterial & antibiofilm activity (in lab studies). Garlic’s key sulfur compound allicin can inhibit growth of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), reduce its ability to stick to urina...

Instructions: Food use is the safest route. Cooking with fresh garlic or using commercial foods that contain garlic is generally safe for most adults. The U.S. NIH’s integrative health center su...

Warnings: Bleeding risk & surgery. Garlic supplements can increase bleeding risk; most peri-operative guidance...

Studies: Human clinical trials for treating UTIs with garlic: None de...

Why it works: TCM rationale. Ba Zheng San is a classic formula that “clears heat and damp” from the lower burner and promotes urination, the core TCM pattern behind acute “lin (strangury)”—burni...

Instructions: Who it’s for (pattern-fit). Best suited to acute, “damp-heat” UTI symptoms (burning, urgency/frequency, dark urine, lower-abdominal discomfort). Not appropriate for “deficiency-typ...

Warnings: Aristolochic acid (AA) risk with “Mu Tong.” Historically, some suppliers adulterated/replaced Mu Ton...

Studies: Randomized, double-blind controlled trial (China). 122 women...

Why it works: Pattern rationale (TCM): LDXGT “drains damp-heat from the lower burner,” a TCM pattern that can present with painful, burning urination, urgency, turbid urine, and genital itching—...

Instructions: Classical decoction composition & amounts (for a practitioner-made decoction) are documented, including typical gram ranges for each herb. This is for trained prescribers to tailor...

Warnings: Aristolochic acid contamination risk (Mu Tong):. Historically, some “Mu Tong” supplies were adultera...

Studies: Direct, high-quality clinical trials for LDXGT as a monother...

Why it works: Pattern rationale (TCM): Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan is a modification of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan that nourishes Kidney/Liver yin and clears “deficiency-heat”. In clinic, it’s sometimes chos...

Instructions: Composition (8 herbs): Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia), Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus), Shan Yao (Dioscorea), Ze Xie (Alisma), Fu Ling (Poria), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan), Huang Bai (Phellodendron...

Warnings: Not a substitute for antibiotics in acute bacterial UTI. If you have fever, flank/back pain, blood i...

Studies: Preclinical (animal/cell) evidence: A 2023 experimental stud...

Why it works: Most uncomplicated UTIs are caused by uropathogenic E. coli that latch onto bladder-cell receptors using the FimH adhesin at the tip of their type-1 pili. Mannose binds FimH, which...

Instructions: There is no universally accepted medical dosing guideline for D-mannose. Where it has been tested in humans, doses were:. Prevention (recurrent UTIs):. • 2 g once daily for 6 month...

Warnings: General tolerability: Usually well tolerated; the most common side effects are loose stools/diarrhea...

Studies: 2024 double-blind RCT (598 women, primary care; 2 g daily fo...